The Massachusetts General Hospital’s management understands the importance of loved ones in the healing process. The following are the requirements for visiting patients at the medical facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hospital’s Updated Visitor Policy
All inpatients should not have more than two visitors or support people each day during the pandemic. The management hopes to provide a safe environment for the patients, staff and visiting family members. The workers at the hospital wear masks, keep social distance and observe hand hygiene to ensure all people are safe.
All the people who visit patients at the hospital should be over 18 years. However, children below 18 years may be permitted to visit their admitted parents. All patients and visitors can now visit the hospital’s gift shops and cafeterias whenever they need them. Whenever the visitors go to the facility, they may request the staff for any expectations concerning changes in the restrictions.
The Hospital’s Policy During the Pandemic
All the visitors who do not comply with the following guidelines may not be allowed into the facility.
Visitors’ Screening
The hospital will screen all visitors for coronavirus symptoms every time they visit the hospital. All people with COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed into the facility. Additionally, those exposed to the virus and who have not completed the quarantine period will not visit the patients at the facility.
Always Wear a Mask
The hospital provides face masks in its different departments so that all people can get access to them. Also, visitors will get masks from the facility every time they visit the facility. Those with masks from their homes will get others when they get to the hospital for replacement.
All inpatients must wear masks while spending time out of their rooms and while interacting with outsiders. The management, however, allows visitors and patients to remove their face masks in some designated locations such as the cafeterias.
Washing of Hands
All people in the facility should wash or sanitize their hands frequently. The hospital provides hand washing and sanitizing centers in different parts of the facility. All visitors with disposable gloves should dispose them before entering the facility and follow the hospital’s hand hygiene protocols.
How Patients Should Behave While Visiting
Visitors should always visit the nurses’ station before visiting the patients in their rooms. There may be a need for you to wear more PPEs when visiting your loved one. All visitors are not allowed to leave the patient’s room whenever visiting unless they need to go to the public restroom.
